The Pitch
In keeping with Völkl’s emphasis on handle technology, the Team Speed includes a vibration-control handle, which is designed to reduce jarring frequencies. The Team Speed also features a carbon and fiberglass construction, marking it as an entry-level performance racquet.

How It Tested
True to its moniker, the Völkl Team Speed is one maneuverable, fast-feeling ride. With a head-light balance and a strung weight under 10 ounces, it’s a viable option for a preteen junior graduating into their first, full-length frame. “For a kid who’s finished playing the 10s, and is starting to need an adult-size racquet, this is the kind of racquet he or she should go to,” says Bruce Levine, Racquet Advisor for Tennis Magazine. “The Team Speed is easy to swing, the cosmetic is going to attract a kid’s eye, and, due to its bare-bones technology, the racquet’s priced affordably.”

Word to the wise: Players who accelerate rapidly through their swings should steer clear of the Team Speed: It’s simply too light to absorb the shock. Juniors who are fast approaching advanced-level swings, then, would do well to elect a heftier racquet with a higher swingweight.

Bottom Line
The breezy Völkl Team Speed is a good transition racquet for pre-adolescent kids who are just starting to work hard at getting better and stronger. What’s more, it won’t break the bank.